How to Keep Asthma Attack Under Control? Reducing Asthma Triggers?
Treating Asthma Triggers And Keep Your Asthma Under Control:
Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It is one of the most common long-term diseases of children, but adults can have asthma, too. Asthma causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing at night or early in the morning. If you have asthma, you have it all the time, but you will have asthma attacks only when something bothers your lungs. asthma triggers
In people with asthma, something causes the airways of the lungs to narrow or become blocked, making it hard to breathe.
Normally,
the airways to the lungs are fully open when we breathe, so air moves in and out freely. People with asthma have highly sensitive airways that become inflamed easily.
They have asthma all the time, but they have asthma episodes or attacks only when something bothers their airways. During an episode, they may cough and wheeze or become short of breath. Sometimes an episode is so severe, they need emergency medical attention to breathe normally again.
In an asthma episode:
- The lining of the airways swells and becomes more inflamed.
- Mucusclogstheairways.
- Muscles tighten around the airways.
- These changes narrow the airways until breathing becomes difficult and stressful, like trying to breathe through a straw-stuffed with cotton.
In some people, a single trigger can set off an asthma attack, while for others several triggers must be present at the same time.
Signs And Symptoms of Asthma:
Asthma signs and symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath.
- Chest tightness or pain.
- Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing.
- A whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling (wheezing is a common sign of asthma in children).
- Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu.
For some people, asthma signs and symptoms flare up in certain situations:
- Exercise-induced asthma, which may be worse when the air is cold and dry.
- Occupational asthma, triggered by workplace irritants such as chemical fumes, gases or dust.
- Allergy-induced asthma, triggered by airborne substances, such as pollen, mold spores, cockroach waste or particles of skin and dried saliva shed by pets (pet dander)
Risk Factors For Developing Asthma:
There are many risk factors that can increase the chances of a child getting asthma. Some are listed here but these are not the only risk factors you have to take into consideration. Some of these risk factors may include:
- Exposure to allergens such as air pollution, dust, and second-hand smoke.
- Family history of asthma or allergies.
- Low birth weight.
- Being overweight.
- Exposure to smoke.
- Parents who smoke.
- Series of lung infections.
Asthmatics have an increased risk of death if:
They don’t,
- Take their medication.
- Have access to adequate medical treatment.
- Come forward in time for treatment during an attack.
- Their asthma is severe and difficult to control, even with medication.
Causes Of Asthma:
The cause of asthma is largely unknown, although sometimes having asthma is linked to a specific trigger such as having inhaled certain chemicals at work. However, if someone in your family has asthma, you are more likely to have it, so there may be a hereditary component to the disease.
An asthma episode occurs when a person with asthma inhales substances in the air that trigger symptoms at home, work, or school.
Asthma triggers lurk indoors and out.
In many people with asthma, the same substances (called allergens) that cause allergy symptoms can trigger an asthma attack. These allergens may be inhaled, such as pollen, tobacco smoke, or dust, or eaten, such as shellfish. Avoiding or limiting exposure to known allergens can help prevent asthma symptoms.
Air pollution is one of the most underappreciated contributors to asthma episodes. Children with asthma are particularly vulnerable to ozone, even at levels below the Environmental Protection Agency’s current standard. Pollution from trucks and auto exhaust also raises the risk of asthma symptoms.
In addition,
- an asthma attack can be caused by some people by strenuous physical exercise, certain medicines, and even bad weather such as thunderstorms.
- No two cases of asthma are exactly alike. Some people react to just a few of these triggers, some to many.
- Some people need only a single trigger to set off an asthma attack, while for others several triggers must be present at the same time.
- People with asthma must learn which factors trigger their episodes, and then try to minimize their exposure to them.
What is an Asthma Attack?
An asthma attack happens in your body’s airways, which are the paths that carry air to your lungs. As the air moves through your lungs, the airways become smaller, like the branches of a tree are smaller than the tree trunk.
During an asthma attack, the sides of the airways in your lungs swell, and the airways shrink. Less air gets in and out of your lungs, and mucus that your body produces clogs up the airways even more. The attack may include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing. Some people call an asthma attack an “episode.”
What happens during an asthma attack?
- The first stage of asthma The lining of the airways swells and becomes more inflamed.
- The secondary stage of asthma Mucus clogs the airways. Muscles tighten around the airways.
- Severe stage of asthma, The ciliated lining cells are so damaged that they slough off into the lumen and become part of the debris that obstructs the airway.
Common Asthma Triggers – What You Can do to Reduce Your Triggers?
1. Tobacco Smoke:
- Tobacco smoke is unhealthy for everyone, especially people with asthma. If you have asthma and you smoke, quit smoking.
Secondhand Smoke:
- Is the smoke from a cigarette, cigar, or pipe, and the smoke exhaled by a smoker. Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 substances, including several compounds that cause cancer.
- It can trigger asthma episodes and increase the severity of attacks.
- Also, it’s a risk factor for new cases of asthma in preschool-aged children.
- Children’s developing bodies make them more susceptible to the effects of secondhand smoke and,
- Due to their small size, they breathe more rapidly than adults, thereby taking in more secondhand smoke.
- Children receiving high doses of secondhand smoke, such as those with smoking parents, run the greatest relative risk of experiencing damaging health effects.
The action you can take:
- If you have asthma, people should never smoke near you, in your home, in your car, or wherever you may spend a lot of time.
2. Dust And Dust Mites:
- Dust mites are tiny bugs that are in almost every home. If you have asthma, dust mites can trigger an asthma attack.
- To prevent attacks, use mattress covers and pillowcase covers to make a barrier between dust mites and yourself.
- Don’t use down-filled pillows, quilts, or comforters.
- Remove stuffed animals and clutter from your bedroom.
- Wash your bedding weekly.
- Wash sheets and blankets in hot water every week.
- Use a high-quality furnace filter.
- Wash curtains often.
- Avoid having carpeting, if you can, or vacuum weekly with a HEPA vacuum cleaner.
Note:
If you have a dust mite allergy, you should not vacuum yourself or be in a room that is being vacuumed.
- Avoid upholstered furniture, especially in the bedroom.
- Store out-of-season clothes in a box or garment bag.
- Wear a protective face mask in dusty areas at work.
3. Pollen And Outdoor Air Pollution:
Outdoor air pollution can trigger an asthma attack. This pollution can come from factories, cars, and other sources. Pay attention to air quality forecasts on radio, television, and the Internet, and check your newspaper to plan your activities for when air pollution levels will be low.
- Try to keep your windows closed during pollen season and when mold counts are high.
- Plan to do indoor activities on high pollen days.
- Ask your health care provider about taking medicine during allergy season.
4. Cockroach Allergen:
- Cockroaches and their droppings can trigger an asthma attack.
- Get rid of cockroaches in your home by removing as many water and food sources as you can.
- Cockroaches are often found where food is eaten and crumbs are left behind.
- Do not leave food or garbage uncovered.
- Clean up spills and food crumbs right away.
- At least every 2 to 3 days, vacuum or sweep areas that might attract cockroaches.
- Use roach traps or gels to cut down on the number of cockroaches in your home.
5. Pets:
Furry pets can trigger an asthma attack. If you think a furry pet may be causing attacks, you may want to find the pet another home.
- If you can’t or don’t want to find a new home for the pet, keep it out of the person with asthma’s bedroom.
- Bathe pets every week and keep them outside as much as you can.
- People with asthma are not allergic to their pet’s fur, so trimming the pet’s fur will not help your asthma.
- If you have a furry pet, vacuum often.
- Also, if your floors have a hard surface, such as wood or tile, damp mop them every week.
6. Indoor Mold:
- Breathing in mold can trigger an asthma attack.
- Get rid of mold in your home to help control your attacks.
- Humidity, the amount of moisture in the air, can make mold grow.
- An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the humidity level low.
- Get a small tool called a hygrometer to check humidity levels and keep them as low as you can—no higher than 50%.
- Humidity levels change over the course of a day, so check the humidity levels more than once a day.
- Fix water leaks, which let mold grow behind walls and under floors.
- Fix leaking faucets, pipes, or other sources of water within 24 hours.
- Clean moldy surfaces with hot water and soap.
- Use bath and kitchen exhaust fans.
7. Smoke From Burning Wood or Grass:
Smoke from burning wood or other plants is made up of a mix of harmful gases and small particles. Breathing in too much of this smoke can cause an asthma attack.
- Avoid burning wood in your home.
- If a wildfire is causing poor air quality in your area pay attention to air quality forecasts on radio, television, and the Internet and check your newspaper to plan your activities for when air pollution levels will be low.
8. Cold, Flu, and Bronchitis:
When you’re sick, your asthma is more likely to are up.
You Should:
- Wash your hands often.
- Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Get a flu shot every year, preferably in the fall.
- Avoid contact with people who have colds.
9. Physical Activities – Exercise:
This can trigger an asthma attack for some people.
- Take your rescue medicine before sports or exercise to prevent symptoms if directed by your health care provider.
- Warm-up – cool down for 5-10 minutes before and after sports or exercise.
10. Strong Odors:
(e.g., hairspray, air fresheners, cleaning products)
- Use unscented products.
- Ask those living or working around me not to use scented products.
- Avoid areas with strong smells when possible. Use a fan when I must be near a strong odor.
- Keeps smells from spreading by closing off areas where the odor is located.
11. Respiratory Infections:
- Wash your hands frequently to prevent infections.
- Call your healthcare provider if you think you have a respiratory infection.
- Get a flu shot every year, and a pneumonia vaccine if age 65 or older or your healthcare provider advises it.
12. Strong Emotions:
- Practice good general health habits to reduce stress.
- Avoid stressful situations.
- Use relaxation exercises and techniques.
- Take advantage of work breaks and lunch hours.
13. Other Trigger:
Cold air, changes in weather, and strong emotions can set o an asthma attack.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a scarf when it gets cold.
- Sometimes laughing or crying can be a trigger.
- Some medicines and foods can trigger asthma.
Some Easy Tips on Treating Asthma Triggers With Diet:
There are many ways that can be done in treating asthma and also help in controlling it, one of the easier and also more natural, methods being changes in diet. By following the specific diet will help you in reducing the inflammation and also clogging of the air passages that can cause Asthma problems. The information below is the most effective changes that have to be made to your diet in helping treat your Asthma triggers.
The first step:
- You should eat lots of fresh and also raw foods in order to avoid processed foods.
- Processed foods will tend to promote mucus production and also worsen Asthma.
- You need to try to eat foods that will not promote mucus production, just like raw fruits and also vegetables, whole grains, seeds, and also fish.
The second step:
- You can eat more garlic and also onion. They contain anti-inflammatory properties that will help you in relieving Asthma, therefore you should try in adding them to your foods more frequently.
The next step:
- You have to ensure that you will drink plenty of water.
- It is also important for you to try to drink water consistently throughout the day if you are drinking it every 2 hours while you are awake.
- It will help you in breaking up mucus and also prevent the Asthma attack.
The last steps,
- It is very important for you to make sure that you will get plenty of Fatty Acids with the cold-water fish or even the Flaxseed Oil.
- Fatty Acids will work in reducing inflammation and also relieve Asthma.
Steps you can take to keep your asthma Triggers under control:
1. Learn to Recognize the Symptoms:
For many people, asthma attacks seem to sneak up on them and before they know it, they are in a situation that seems out of control. By carefully monitoring your symptoms, you will have a better idea of when an attack is going to happen.
There are four key symptoms that you should monitor to help you keep your asthma under control:
- Daytime Symptoms:
How often do you have asthma symptoms during the day, such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath? - Nighttime Symptoms:
Do you wake up at night with asthma symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath? - Quick-Relief or Rescue Inhaler Use:
How often do you use your quick-relief or rescue inhaler (i.e., albuterol medicine) to relieve asthma symptoms? - Activity Level:
Do you have difficulty performing normal activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, daily chores, or playing with the kids?
2. Know what your asthma trigger is:
You should visit your doctor to know the allergens that can trigger your asthma attack. Your doctor can help you to have several allergy tests that will identify the allergens for your asthma condition. After you know your asthma trigger, try to avoid that trigger to manage your asthma symptoms. Some items, such as pollen or smoke, can trigger asthma attacks. One thing that you can do is to use a mask when you go outside. It prevents you from those allergens.
3. Stick to your asthma care plan:
The asthma care plan will be established by you and your doctor. With your doctor’s help and supervision, you will know if symptoms are starting or are getting worse. You will also be talking to your doctor to know what to do in case of an adult asthma attack.
In your asthma care plan, you will categorize your asthma symptoms in three zones:
- Green (good asthma control).
- Yellow (slipping asthma control).
- And red (danger).
You will also be educated by your doctor on identifying where your symptoms fall in these zones. And the proper management for each zone will also be discussed. An asthma care plan is often overlooked by asthma sufferers. But this plan is very important in ensuring that you follow the doctor’s prescribed treatment. This plan will also help you monitor the progress of your asthma management.
4. Educate Yourself on Your Medications:
A lot of people who are treated for asthma simply follow their doctor’s instructions for taking their medications. The fact is that you might be on several medications and each one is going to get a different result. For example, you may have one medicine that is used for prevention, while another, like a steroid, is to be used for a more serious episode.
5. Plan a Diet that Includes Fresh Fruits and Vegetables:
As many fruits and vegetables are considered to be antioxidants, it is important to add them to the diet. Vitamins C and E are well known for their anti-inflammatory effects and can actually help to reduce irritation or swelling in the lungs.
6. Avoid doing activities in cold weather:
If you have asthma, you might want to keep doing your activities normally. However, you have to make sure that you should not go outside in cold weather. Cold air can enter your nasal system easily and cause asthma attacks. Consider staying at home when you have an asthma attack.
7. Keep Your Weight Down:
Being overweight can easily cause more asthma attacks in the individual. By keeping your weight down, you can reduce the number of symptoms that you experience. Even just losing a few pounds will make a difference.
8. Schedule Consults With Your Doctor:
The biggest and most important tool you have to help fight your asthma is your doctor. Their experience and education will play a vital role in how well you are able to reduce your symptoms. Regular visits with your doctor can help determine what triggers an attack and they can advise you on how to get it under better control.
Summing Up:
There are many ways of controlling asthma amongst them is a vitamin supplement. These should be taken only under the direction of the physician. Asthma is a disease that can be taken care of by our own lifestyle and way of living. One should take proper body hygiene and also the diet should be taken balanced which helps our immunity system leading to a better life.
The important thing to remember is,
that you can control your asthma. With your doctor’s or other medical professional’s help, make your own asthma action plan (management plan) so that you know what to do based on your own symptoms. Decide who should have a copy of your plan and where he or she should keep it. un
If you find this article useful, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family, as you might help someone in need. Thanks.
Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment for any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”
References
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